AHA Section for Small or Rural Hospitals

The American Hospital Association and its Section for Small or Rural Hospitals add value to small or rural hospital members through representation and advocacy, communication, education, and management strategies, state association and inter-organization collaboration, and a Rural Hospital Leadership Development Awards program.

The Section and AHA ensure that the unique needs of this segment of its membership are a national priority. Working side by side with state and regional associations and with counsel from its governing council, the Section monitors the issues and concerns facing its constituents, develops policy, and identifies solutions to their most pressing problems.

The August issue of the Small or Rural Update covered legislative and regulatory issues, including a brief look at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) final rule for fiscal year (FY) 2011. This edition of Update examines in detail the rule’s impact on small or rural hospitals, including critical access hospitals (CAH).